COPYRIGHT: The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever possible, the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives will provide information about copyright owners and other restrictions, but the legal determination ultimately rests with the researcher. Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

Roy C. Bates (Kurt Bauchwitz) Papers
Biographical Sketch

Kurt Bauchwitz was born in Halle (Saale), Germany on July 12, 1890 to
Edmund and Ida (Sachs) Bauchwitz. Kurt exhibited a talent for writing at an early
age and published his first serious writing piece at the age of fourteen. During
his childhood, he also studied piano and gave his first concert at sixteen, however
decided against pursuing a career in music as too time-consuming. After graduating
from gymnasium in 1908, Bauchwitz attended the universities of Grenoble, Munich,
Berlin and Halle, where he studied law, completing his studies in 1912. During
his university years, he continued to write poems and aphorisms and published
pieces in Der Jugend and Nord und SÃ¼d.

At the conclusion of his studies in 1912, Bauchwitz was appointed Referendar
and served as a junior judge and barrister until 1921. During this time period,
Bauchwitz also served in the German army, having volunteered for service in
October of 1913. He was called to active duty in 1914, served on the Western
Front until the end of the war, and received both the Iron Cross and Medal of
Honor for bravery. Also during this time period, he continued to write poetry,
composing many of the poems later published in his first and only published volume
of poetry, Der Lebendige (1920), while serving in the German army.
Bauchwitz married Else Schwabach on February 22, 1917, who gave birth to their
first son, Kurt Helmut, on April 22, 1919, and a second son, Till, on May 9, 1922.
Bauchwitz was widowed in 1931 by the death of his wife Else on March 15.

From 1921 to 1938 Bauchwitz practiced law in Berlin, receiving his degrees
of Pol.Sc.D. and LL.D. from the University of Halle in 1924. . He specialized in
international commercial law, family and social law. In 1926 he received
the appointment of Notar (notary), by the Minister of Justice. This appointment was revoked by Nazi legislation effective
November 1935 which deprived all ânon-Aryanâ Notare of their profession. In November 1938, his right to practice law was
terminated for the same reason. As a result, Bauchwitz was forced to close his Berlin law firmoffice.
Two years later, his right to practice law is terminated, and in November of 1938,
Bauchwitz is forced to close his Berlin law office.

His termination in 1938, marked the beginning of a series of radical changes
for Bauchwitz. Later that year, on December 16, Bauchwitz married his secretary
Hilde Michaelis. Just prior to his departure from Hitler's Germany in March 1939, Bauchwitz is baptized as a Catholic.
On April 3, 1939, Bauchwitz leaves Nazi Germany. After several months, Bauchwitz, his new wife and two sons
arrive in Japan, where they remain for nearly eighteen months before their eventual
departure for the United States on November 20, 1940. The period, which began
with Bauchwitz' departure from Germany and ended with his eventual arrival in
the U.S. in December of 1941, was one of his most fertile creative periods.
During this time, he collected many of his earlier poems and epigrammatic verse
to form the collection he called the "Abzieh-Bilderbuch." In addition, he wrote
over 200 poems, later entitled his "Tokyo poems," which would also be the last
significant collection of poetry in German he would write.

Following his arrival in New York City, Kurt Bauchwitz, German writer and lawyer,
would become Roy C. Bates, on his way to becoming a naturalized American citizen
and writer. In 1941, Bates' divorced and from 1942-1943 Bates pursued a course of study at
the Columbia University School of Library Science, receiving a B.S. degree in
October 1943. Bates' diligent efforts at perfecting his English language skills
result in securing him an editorial position on the Funk & Wagnalls New Standard Encyclopeida staff from
1944 to 1947. Bauchwitz also becomes an American citizen on May 6, 1946, legally
changing his name from Kurt Bauchwitz to Roy Curt Bates at this time, and less
than two years later, marries Barbara Bent, on March 16, 1948.

Although Bates continued to write during the late 1940s and early 1950s,
composing poems, epigrams, short prose, and even song texts in English, only
one of his efforts in English saw publication despite his continued attempts
to find publication outlets for his writings.

The 1950s saw the resumption of Bates' legal career with his return to the study
of law, first at St. John's University (1953-1954) and later at New York University
(1954-1956), where he received his LL.B. degree in February 1956. On June 19,
less than one month before his 67th birthday, Roy C. Bates became the oldest person
at that time to be admitted to the Bar and practice in New York State. Several years
later in 1962, after relocating to Milton, Massachusetts, Bates was also admitted
to the Massachusetts State Bar.

Bates continued to write during the 1950s and 1960s, however, his writing took
the form of semi-autobiographical observations, which he recorded on a regular,
often a daily, basis. Three series of these collections of observations, the first
series entitled "Pebbles" and the later two entitled "Quotation Marks," make up
the bulk of his writing activity during this time. Bates also became interested
in the legal aspects of psychedelic drugs during the 1960s, which resulted in
his participation in the M.I.T.-based Neurobiological and Psychedelic Study Group,
as well as publication of an article on "Psychedelics and the Law" in 1964.

Although Roy Curt Bates (Kurt Bauchwitz) was a lawyer by profession both in
Germany and later in the United States specializing in international law, his
enthusiasm for writing which began in early childhood, survived the change from
a German-speaking to an American writer, and is evidenced by the large body of
written work he left behind. Bates died in Milton, Massachusetts on July 18, 1974 at the age of 84.

Roy C. Bates (Kurt Bauchwitz) Papers
Scope and Content Note

The Roy C. Bates Papers, 1890-1994, concentrate primarily on the literary career
of Bates/Bauchwitz (1910-1974), with a secondary emphasis on the legal career of Bates.
The materials document his early years in Germany (1890-1938), the years of flight from
Hitler Germany via Japan to the United States (1938-1941), and his U.S. years (1941-1974).

The biographical materials contain many early documents,
including school and university diplomas, birth and
marriage certificates, German military record, and
documents pertaining to Bauchwitz's dismissal from
his legal position by the Hitler regime. Also included
in this section are a series of curriculum vitae,
as well as several biographical statements intended
as introductions to volumes of poetry, and a small
number of photographs.

The correspondence consists of nearly 5,000 letters, primarily 1941-1974,
and has been divided into five sub-categories, arranged alphabetically within
each sub-series: 1) personal, which represents the largest section and includes
correspondences with family members (esp. his two sons) and life-long friends;
2) legal correspondences; 3) correspondences re: literary topics and publications;
4) correspondence re: psychedelic drugs and schizophrenia; and 5) miscellaneous correspondences.

The manuscripts and typescripts have been divided between poetry (including
epigrammatic verse and aphorisms) and prose. The poetry section, dating from circa 1926,
is primarily written in German, with the exception of his later epigrammatic verse
collections "Ego and Echo" and "Monogrips," which are in English. The prose
sub-series includes short prose pieces (the majority written in English) and
his loosely autobiographical collections of daily observations, which span nearly
three decades, 1950-1966, which he entitled "Pebbles" (later "Question Marks").

The publications section contains copies, either in the original or in photocopy,
of nearly all of Bauchwitz'/Bates' published writings, including his first and only
published volume of verse Der Lebendige (1920), as well as his many
published "Letters to the Editor."

The miscellaneous materials section has been sub-divided into the materials of
Roy C. Bates and those of his wife, Barbara Bent Bates. The Roy C. Bates materials
consist primarily of clippings and materials files, arranged alphabetically by
subjects on legal topics, organizations and other subjects of interest to Bates.
The Barbara Bates materials are divided between her own writings (and publications)
and her attempts to publish her husband's writings posthumously.
Oversize materials consist of diplomas (2), as well as two paintings, which were
probably given to the Bates as gifts.

Roy C. Bates (Kurt Bauchwitz) Papers
Series Description

This series contains documents, several selections of diary entries, photographs
and curriculum vita of Bates. The documents pertaining to Roy C. Bates (Kurt Bauchwitz)
date from 1890 to 1974 with later documents pertaining to Barbara Bates (third wife),
which date through 1995. Included in the collection are many early documents such
as birth certificates, early school documents, marriage certificates from Bates/Bauchwitz'
first two marriages in Germany, as well as university and military service documents.
Also in the collection are a number of documents which record Bates/Bauchwitz'
legal career as well as his subsequent dismissal from his post by the Hitler regime in 1938.
His period of flight from Nazi Germany is also well-documented, as well as his
early years in the U.S., including his naturalization as a U.S. citizen in 1946.
Also included in this section are documents pertaining to his university studies
in the U.S. at Columbia, St. John's and New York Universities. Completing the
biographical section of this series are a number of curriculum vita, several
biographical statements prepared for planned editions of Bates' poetry, as well
as a number of photographs.

The correspondence files contain photographs, offprints and clippings in addition
to the correspondence (ca. 5,000 letters), which dates primarily from Bates' U.S. years
(1941-1974), although a few earlier letters are present in the collection. Several
correspondences were continued after Bates' death in 1974 by his widow, Barbara,
until as late as 1987. Letters are in German, English and French and have been
divided into five sub-series: personal, legal, literary, mental health and drug
research, and miscellaneous.

This series includes correspondence (595 letters) with colleagues, as well as
correspondence relating to Bates' admission
to law schools, admission to the New York State bar in 1957, admission to the
Massachusetts State Bar in 1963, in addition to correspondence concerning various legal matters.
Most notable among the correspondents are: Hermann J. Abs, Walter J. Derenberg, Martin Domke,
Fritz HeÃler, Joseph Kaskell. This sub-series also contains Bates' correspondence with
the Berlin EntschÃ¤digungsamt (reparations bureau), 1955-1973.

This sub-series of correspondence (212 letters) centers around issues on the
use and legality of psychedelic drugs in the 1960s, as well as correspondence
and materials dealing with mental health topics, in particular schizophrenia.
Bates' interest in the psychedelic movement of the 1960s led to his participation
in the M.I.T.-based Neurobiological and Psychedelic Study Group (1965-1969).
Notable among the correspondents are: Kahlil Samra (American Schizophrenia Association),
Lisa Biebermann, Abram Hoffer, Peter H. John (Psychedelic Review),
Timothy Leary (3 L.), Ralph Metzner, Max Rinkel. Also included in this sub-series
are numerous clippings, offprints and brochures relating to individual correspondents.

Included in this section are correspondences (ca. 580 letters) relating to Bates'
employment efforts, correspondences with members of the German Consulate, as well as
routine correspondence concerning household matters, vacation plans, medical matters and retirement.

This sub-series is arranged chronologically by groupings/collections of poetry
and epigrammatic verse, and chronologically within each grouping. Main groupings include:
Der Lebendige, "Abzieh-Bilderbuch," "Tokyo poems," "EinsÃ¤tze/Monogriphs," "Gedichte,"
"Versepigramme," "Silben: Haiku und tanka," "Ego and Echo," and "Der Zitronenbaum."
With the exception of the "Monogriphs" and AEgo and Echo" collections, which are in
English, the majority of the poems, epigrams and aphorisms are in German.

The prose writings are arranged chronologically and consist of short prose pieces
in German and in English, and the later prose writings written almost entirely in English.
These include Bates' loosely autobiographical observations, the first series collectively
entitled "Pebbles" and the later series entitled "Question Marks." Also included in
this section are the outlines of Bates' "Biotechnics" with notes for a "Biosophic Seminar,"
accompanied by numerous note slips divided into the various categories of biosophy, as defined by Bates.

The Roy C. Bates materials consist of materials pertaining to various organizations,
legal topics, legal publications, hallucinogenic drug materials, etc. and include clippings,
some notes, as well as published brochures and offprints.

The Barbara Bates materials can be divided into three main sections: materials pertaining to her own writings/ publications (5 folders); materials on subjects of interest (7 folders), primarily political topics, incl. her involvement in the 1956 campaign to elect Adlai Stevenson; and notes concerning the posthumous publication of the writings of Roy C. Bates (11 folders).

Oversize materials include: Bates' diplomas from Columbia University (1943),
New York University (1956), 2 paintings (presumably gifts), and an audio tape of
the memorial service for Roy C. Bates (Sept. 1974).

Roy C. Bates (Kurt Bauchwitz) Papers
Box and Folder List

Folders 34-37: Der Lebendige:
34. Typescripts of selected poems from the published volume. 72p.
35. Photocopied pages from the volume, with indications (from Barbara Bates)
for poems to be typed. 72p.
36. Photocopied pages from the volume, with indications (from Barbara Bates)
for poems to be typed. 47p.; notes from Barbara Bates. A. 3p.
37. Typescripts of selected poems from the volume, most pages coded with “DL”
in upper left corner. 78p.

Folders 38-41: Poems, aphorisms, short prose, diary entries. 1928-1938. Pages
removed from notebook labeled “Leitz I”. Contains a mixture of original
typescripts and carbons with h. corrections, with some duplicate pages. Also
a few handwritten pages. Although many of the items are dated, the pages are
not arranged in chronological order, but are hand-numbered 1-747. Items in one
section, pp. 231-611, have been individually hand-numbered from 1180-2405.
38. Pages 1-200.
39. Pages 201-400.
40. Pages 401-599.
41. Pages 600-747.

Folders 42-44: Poems, aphorisms, epigrams, short prose. 1927-1938, with the
exception of three items, with pencilled dates of 1904, 1905, 1920 (all located
in folder 42). Pages removed from an unlabeled Leitz notebook are a mixture of
original typescripts and carbons with h. corrections. Although many items are
dated, the pages are not arranged in chronological order, nor are they numbered.
Items in the last section, pp. 419-709, have been individually hand-numbered
from 1-905 (folder 44), dated mainly 1934-1935.
42. Pages 1-199.
43. Pages 200-418.
44. Pages 419-709.

Folders 45-47: Poems, aphorisms, epigrams, short prose. 1930-1938. Pages which
have been removed from a Leitz notebook labeled “Aphorismen und Epigramme
(in Verse)” are a mixture of original typescripts and carbons with h.
corrections. Although many items are dated, the pages are not arranged in chronological
order. One section in folder 12 has been numbered pp. 1-114, with items individually
hand-numbered from 906-1179, many items designated as “Tagebuch”
entries, predominantly dated 1930-1933.
45. 244 pages.
46. 249 pages.
47. 244 pages.

Box 8
Folder

1. Aphorisms and lyrics, 1932-1935, including the aphorism collection entitled
“Die Lebenslehre” (14p.). T.cc. 196p.
2. Aphorisms and short prose, 1933-1935. T.cc. 226p.
3. Poetry, aphorisms, short prose. Dated Kampen, July-August 1938. Stapled in
3 sections. 8p., 14p., 30p. T.cc.
4. Poetry, primarily 1940, some undated, small number dated 1937. Pages were
removed from a Leitz notebook labeled “Leitz IV” and are hand-numbered
1-316. Pages are a mixture of original typescripts and carbons with h. corrections.
Also one original Ms. 1p. Although many items are dated, the pages are not arranged
in chronological order.
5. Collection of 477 poems from which the author made selections, arranged alphabetically.
Each page is marked “yb” in upper right corner. Undated, primarily
pre-1938. None of the poems selected for the Abzieh-Bilderbuch are included
in this selection. T.cc. 291p.

Folders 27-29: “Monogriphs/Pebbles.” Collection of aphorisms in
English, many based on the earlier German “Einsätze.”
27. “Monogriphs/Pebbles.” Several versions. T. with numerous h. corr.
10p. Another version. 2c. T. with h. corr., cc. 6p. ea.
28. “Monogriphs.” Collection of 151 aphorisms in English, many transliterations
of the German “Einsätze.” 1951. 2 copies. T. and cc. 14p. ea.
Copies of originals. Pc. 3c. 14p. ea.
29. “Monogriphs.” Collection of aphorisms, typed one to a page. T.
with notes on the table of contents page concerning the categories of aphorisms.
Dated 6/10/57 and 10-16-60. 113p.

Folders 26-27: Institute of Judicial Administration (40 Washington Square South,
New York 12, N.Y.) publications.
26. You Litigate (2-U35). March 3, 1954.
Publication of Judicial Statistics (3-U65). June 24, 1955.
Administrative Boards for Automobile Tort Cases - Workmen’s Compensation
Compared (Delay and Congestion - Suggested Remedies Series, No. 8) (2-U63).
May 15, 1956.
Compulsory Arbitration and Court Congestion.. The Pennsylvania Compulsory Arbitration
Statute (Delay and Congestion - Suggested Remedies Series No. 11) (4-U46). July
1, 1956.
27. Assignment Systems in Civil Cases, Continuances, and Judicial Vacations (Delay
and Congestion – Suggested Remedies Series No. 9) (4-U18). August 1, 1956.
A Guide to Court Systems. November 1957.
Attitudes of the Bench and Bar Toward the Law’s Delays. Paper presented
at The National Conference on Congestion in the Courts. Department of Justice,
Washington, C.C. (6-U70). June 16, 1958.
Rules of Court - Sources (6-U59). July 15, 1958.
Certification of Questions of Law (Delay and Congestion - Suggested Remedies
Series, No. 13) (6-U49). August 1, 1958.
28. International Law Association, New York University Conference (1958). Conference
materials concerning the uses of international rivers and lakes. 14 items, incl.:
Principles of Law Governing the Uses of International Rivers and Lakes. Resolution
Adopted by the Inter-American Bar Association at its Tenth Conference Held in
November, 1957, at Buenos Aires, Argentina, together with Papers Submitted to
the Association. Washington, D.C.: April 1958.
Principles of Law and Recommendations on the Uses of International Rivers. Statement
of Principles of Law and Recommendations with a Commentary and Supporting Authorities
Submitted to the International Committee of the International Law Association
by the committee on the Uses of Waters of International Rivers of the American
Branch. Washington, D.C. May 1958.
29. Japan. 5 items.
30. Lawyer’s Co-operative Publishing Company (Rochester 14, New York) publications:
How to Use American Jurisprudence. c1938. 48p.
How to Use American Law Reports. c1951. 48p.
31. Legal topics. 12 items.
32. Literary topics. Ca. 30 items.